Two Grieving Mothers

Once again Donald Trump’s mouth has got him in trouble. When asked to respond to the speech by a Muslim father of a soldier killed in action, he made a crack about the mother not being allowed to speak. Further comments have kept the story going. This story and the story of a mother who lost her son in the Benghazi attack say a lot about politics, the media and the campaign.
Each political party shamelessly used grieving parents to score political points. Having them speak was a tasteless exercise in gotcha politics.
It is also interesting to note the difference in the media’s reaction. Mr. Khan’s speech received far more publicity. Ms. Smith has come under fire from liberal commentators. One even said that he “would like to beat her to death”. I think it is clear that some in the media see their primary mission is to help get Hillary Clinton elected.
Then there are the candidates themselves. Hillary Clinton has a thick skin, good political instincts and the ability to think before she speaks. She briefly commented and moved on. Trump, who has none of those attributes, has created a media sensation.
Usually I try to make a point. Today I am just making observations.
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